In the quiet village of Pagladiapara, Fakirhat, Bagerhat, lives Sheikh Abdul Majid, a 58-year-old farmer with a lifelong love for agriculture. Despite only completing up to the 3rd grade due to financial struggles, Majid never let lack of formal education stop his passion for farming.
Majid lives with his family—two sons and three daughters—who have stood by him through thick and thin. His youngest son, who recently earned a diploma in agriculture, shares his father’s dream of improving their farm and livelihood.
For years, Majid cultivated paddy on his family land, but his curiosity and ambition led him to experiment with vegetables like brinjal, pumpkin, and chichinga. On 13 decimals of land, he now grows chichinga and has discovered ways to increase profits by selling his produce wisely.
Recently, Majid joined a “ Business Management Skills ” training under the Smallholder Agricultural Competitiveness Project (SACP) , funded by the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM) and supported by Ashraf Foundation . This training opened a new world of knowledge for him—how to market vegetables and fruits effectively, manage a small farm business, and think like an entrepreneur.
Inspired by what he learned, Majid now shares his knowledge with fellow villagers, teaching them improved methods of vegetable cultivation and smarter ways to sell their products. He dreams of expanding his vegetable nursery, and with some financial support, he hopes to store and market his produce even better, benefiting both his family and the community.
Majid’s journey shows how passion, perseverance, and the right guidance can transform a smallholder farmer into a successful entrepreneur. His story is a testament to the impact of training programs like SACP-DAM and the support of organizations like Ashraf Foundation in empowering farmers to build better futures.
